CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers selected wide receiver Terrace Marshall from LSU with the 59th overall pick in the NFL draft Friday night after trading back twice in the second round to acquire a pair of third round picks.
Marshall became the first offensive player selected in the head coach Matt Rhule era, after the Panthers spent all seven picks on defensive players last year. Carolina added cornerback Jaycee Horn from South Carolina in the first round on Thursday night.
Marshall played under current Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady at LSU, where they helped the Tigers win a national championship two years ago.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Marshall was a big contributor in the Tigers national title run playing alongside Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow,. Marshall caught 46 passes for 671 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore despite missing three games with a toe injury.
Marshall started the first seven games of the 2020 season, leading the Tigers with 48 receptions for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns before opting out of the season.
He gives new quarterback Sam Darnold another weapon after wide receiver Curtis Samuel left via free agency. The Panthers also return 1,000-yard receivers D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson.
One of Carolina’s most pressing needs in the draft was finding an offensive tackle.
Plenty offensive tackles were on the board when the Panthers were at No. 39, but after the decision to trade down to 52 four had gone off the board. Carolina then traded down another seven spots to 59.
The Panthers currently hold three picks in the third round (Nos. 73, 83 and 89), which will be later Friday night. They also have four picks in the sixth round on Saturday.
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